You will be asked to develop an approach to casting and creating an appropriate set of designs for this play the week we consider this play. 1. Which of the following venues do you think can best meet the needs of the play? Thrust: I prefer thrust because I see it more as a nice in between to stages. It doesn’t make a ton of things impossible to see as does an arena stage, but it also allows for more mobility for the characters. To adjust for any miscommunication, i would push the actors to really exaggerate their actions (such as Vale remembering over and over the things he needs to do to setup the scene of the crime before leaving it). The thrust allows the actors to get closer with the audience while still maintaining a distance enough that they have space for scene props and such.
2. What are some of the challenges posed by the play on the stage design team? Visibility. Obviously a lot of crucial action (how Vale handles Willis) and important emotion is displayed in the play, which means everyone needs to see and hear how each character reacts to better understand the story dynamics. Another issue can be space. Of course a car could probably not be put on stage, so a smaller stage wouldn’t be as much an issue. However, to display the different setting seamlessly (without much break) a stage will need to be easily configured between scene changes.
3. Choose a character from the play and suggest how she/he should be dressed. In what ways do you think the costume would help accentuate his/her character? Be sure to indicate which scene you have selected to costume that character. You might even upload a picture of the kind of dress you think would be suitable for that character to wear. Willis,, during the first scene, when he is still alive: I think class status can be very well shown through what an actor is costumed with. For example, if Willis was in a more expensive outfit (such as a button down, clean shirt, slacks, and a watch), Vale may have perceived him differently in that situation. Willis may have tried to take the newer car then or be drunk and mistakenly trying to get in the wrong car. Therefore, I imagine Willis is in something more raggedy. Street clothes as described. Something that tells audience he is probably not good news for Vale.
4. Given the content of the play, how might the lighting design help further the mood of the production? Move thru the play scene by scene to provide a possible progression. Scene 1: Vale and Willis should be only illuminated by the “streetlamp” that beams a spotlight for their main action to occur. The streetlamp can also flicker intense moments so that it almost feels as if the audience isn’t even sure what story is straight in terms of what happened that night. It may be interesting to somehow incorporate the police car lights into the play/this scene in one way or another as the lights are a thing many audience members are familiar with and can indicate easily. Scene 2: The interrogation, which means Vale should be on the spotlight. Maybe even giving the actors ability to grab the spotlight and move it as tension rises and Vale gets more frustrated by Parker’s accusations and behavior. Scene 3: The bar should have low light and be bustling with commotion, but also be as if Charlie and Vale’s conversation is away from the world. Scene 4: This scene between Vale and his wife is very tense. As well as it being dark outside, the only lighting should be from the lamps in the house and maybe moonlight. Therefore maybe having an eerie, dark blue haze filling the space would work. Scene 5: In contrast, a more bright environment can be displayed here. Vale feels a bit better since his wife hasn’t left him even with the truth out. Therefore, the scene will start out on the lighter side, but slowly shift to a more dark setting. Maybe Rusty indicates this by drawing the blinds (almost as if he feels they’re being watched/listened to). Filters of red or green can also be faded in. Scene 6: similar brighter lighting as was in the beginning of scene 4 Scene 7: Here the setting from Scene 1 can be used once again. Thus almost giving the audience the impression that Vale may kill again. Scene 8: The court scene is what the whole story has been building up to. Use lighting to make Vale seem small. Maybe have certain areas of the stage lit in more threatening colors (like red).
5. Suggest music or sound effects that might be used to accentuate the mood or atmosphere of the play and the transitions between parts of the play. You might even choose to upload music or sound effects that you think are suitable for the play, or moment in the play, or as preshow music or transitions from one scene to another. As mentioned before, I think the bar scene is important in its sound effects. One needs to find the balance between too loud atmosphere sounds and too soft. Obviously Charlie and Vale are in a bar, which means it’ll be loud. However, they’re also having this intense conversation that no one around them seems to be aware of. Therefore, it may be useful to have it start out as loud, but ease a bit off as Vale and Charlie start to talk. Preshow you don’t want to give any indication that something bad is going to happen right off the bat. So playing something that is not happy per say, but also not too dark would be useful. Have the transition music display the character. For example, when transitioning to Rusty apartment, play something that Rusty would play. Maybe have it sound like it’s on a record player and have Rusty “turn it off” as the scene begins.
1. Which of the following venues do you think can best meet the needs of the play?
Thrust: I prefer thrust because I see it more as a nice in between to stages. It doesn’t make a ton of things impossible to see as does an arena stage, but it also allows for more mobility for the characters. To adjust for any miscommunication, i would push the actors to really exaggerate their actions (such as Vale remembering over and over the things he needs to do to setup the scene of the crime before leaving it). The thrust allows the actors to get closer with the audience while still maintaining a distance enough that they have space for scene props and such.
2. What are some of the challenges posed by the play on the stage design team?
Visibility. Obviously a lot of crucial action (how Vale handles Willis) and important emotion is displayed in the play, which means everyone needs to see and hear how each character reacts to better understand the story dynamics.
Another issue can be space. Of course a car could probably not be put on stage, so a smaller stage wouldn’t be as much an issue. However, to display the different setting seamlessly (without much break) a stage will need to be easily configured between scene changes.
3. Choose a character from the play and suggest how she/he should be dressed. In what ways do you think the costume would help accentuate his/her character? Be sure to indicate which scene you have selected to costume that character. You might even upload a picture of the kind of dress you think would be suitable for that character to wear.
Willis,, during the first scene, when he is still alive: I think class status can be very well shown through what an actor is costumed with. For example, if Willis was in a more expensive outfit (such as a button down, clean shirt, slacks, and a watch), Vale may have perceived him differently in that situation. Willis may have tried to take the newer car then or be drunk and mistakenly trying to get in the wrong car. Therefore, I imagine Willis is in something more raggedy. Street clothes as described. Something that tells audience he is probably not good news for Vale.
4. Given the content of the play, how might the lighting design help further the mood of the production? Move thru the play scene by scene to provide a possible progression.
Scene 1: Vale and Willis should be only illuminated by the “streetlamp” that beams a spotlight for their main action to occur. The streetlamp can also flicker intense moments so that it almost feels as if the audience isn’t even sure what story is straight in terms of what happened that night. It may be interesting to somehow incorporate the police car lights into the play/this scene in one way or another as the lights are a thing many audience members are familiar with and can indicate easily.
Scene 2: The interrogation, which means Vale should be on the spotlight. Maybe even giving the actors ability to grab the spotlight and move it as tension rises and Vale gets more frustrated by Parker’s accusations and behavior.
Scene 3: The bar should have low light and be bustling with commotion, but also be as if Charlie and Vale’s conversation is away from the world.
Scene 4: This scene between Vale and his wife is very tense. As well as it being dark outside, the only lighting should be from the lamps in the house and maybe moonlight. Therefore maybe having an eerie, dark blue haze filling the space would work.
Scene 5: In contrast, a more bright environment can be displayed here. Vale feels a bit better since his wife hasn’t left him even with the truth out. Therefore, the scene will start out on the lighter side, but slowly shift to a more dark setting. Maybe Rusty indicates this by drawing the blinds (almost as if he feels they’re being watched/listened to). Filters of red or green can also be faded in.
Scene 6: similar brighter lighting as was in the beginning of scene 4
Scene 7: Here the setting from Scene 1 can be used once again. Thus almost giving the audience the impression that Vale may kill again.
Scene 8: The court scene is what the whole story has been building up to. Use lighting to make Vale seem small. Maybe have certain areas of the stage lit in more threatening colors (like red).
5. Suggest music or sound effects that might be used to accentuate the mood or atmosphere of the play and the transitions between parts of the play. You might even choose to upload music or sound effects that you think are suitable for the play, or moment in the play, or as preshow music or transitions from one scene to another.
As mentioned before, I think the bar scene is important in its sound effects. One needs to find the balance between too loud atmosphere sounds and too soft. Obviously Charlie and Vale are in a bar, which means it’ll be loud. However, they’re also having this intense conversation that no one around them seems to be aware of. Therefore, it may be useful to have it start out as loud, but ease a bit off as Vale and Charlie start to talk.
Preshow you don’t want to give any indication that something bad is going to happen right off the bat. So playing something that is not happy per say, but also not too dark would be useful. Have the transition music display the character. For example, when transitioning to Rusty apartment, play something that Rusty would play. Maybe have it sound like it’s on a record player and have Rusty “turn it off” as the scene begins.